nela1richardson - Standard 3

Cultural Leadership
School executive will understand and act on the understanding of the important role a school's culture plays in contributing to the exemplary performance of the school. School executives must support and value the traditions, artifacts, symbols and positive values and norms of the school community that result in a sense of identity and pride upon which to build a positive future. A school executive must be able to "re-culture" the school is needed to align with school's goals of improving student and adult learning and to infuse the work of the adults and students with passion, meaning and purpose. Cultural leadership implies understanding the school and the people in it each day, how they came to their current state and how to connect with their traditions in order to move them forward to support the school's efforts to achieve individual and collective goals.

Standard 3 Self Assessment

3a. Focus on Collaborative Work Environment: The school executive understands and acts on the understanding of the positive role that a collaborative work environment can play in the school's culture.
Activities:

Coursework

Developmental Projects: Researched the included a resource analysis of school and community
High School Turnaround Case Study:
Monthly / Weekly Internship Log:
High School Turnaround Case Study
Fall 2011 Assessment Day: Video reflection on school culture
Facilitative Leadership & Crucial Conversations reflection
Change Course: Class investigation with Dr. Cathy Williams on creating collaborative environment. Included presentation on leadership styles that encourage healthy PLCs, fall 2011.
Change Course: investigation of the Teacher Working Condition (TWC) survey included examination of school climate constructs, fall 2011.
DLP 3: collaborated with teachers and mentor principal to assess the level of collaboration and functionality of PLCs. Fall, 2011.
Problem of Practice: action research assessing the culture of internship school (e.g. interviews with stakeholders, climate data, TWC analysis). Fall, 2011.

Specialized Training

Data Day: training on EVAAS, ACRE, Metametrics and NC WISE. Discussed how data instruments can be used in schools to generate shared responsibility, spring 2012.
Schooling by Design:
Site Visit to KIPP Gaston: introduced to methods for ensuring collaboration both among teachers and between teachers and students, fall 2011.
Crucial Conversations
Teacher Evaluation Instrument
Certified training on Facilitative Leadership and practice of skills at school sites, including finding maximum appropriate involvement and facilitating agreement, January-May 2010.

Related Readings

The Fifth Discipline by Senge
Trust Matters by Moran
Leading in a Culture of Change by Fullan
Leading Change by Kotter
How It’s Being Done by Chenoweth
Crucial Conversations by Patterson
The Speed of Trust: The One Thing that Matters by Covey
Leading with Inquiry & Action: How Principals Improve Teaching and Learning by Militello
Working with and Evaluating Difficult School Employees by Eller
The School Leaders Our Children Deserve by Theoharis
What’s Worth Fighting for in the Principalship by Fullan
Schooling by Design by Wiggins
Managing Transitions by Bridgers
Reframing Organizations by Bolman & Deal

3b.School Culture and Identity: The school executive develops and uses shared vision, values and goals to define the identity and culture of the school.

Experiences

School Improvement Team Meetings & Participation
Introductory Letter to Staff
School District Digital Story
Internship Site Assets Video
Fall 2011 Assessment Day:
- Video reflection on school culture
- Triad role plays re: teacher interactions
- Action plan for teacher
Professional Growth Plan

Coursework

School Improvement Team Meetings & Participation
Introductory Letter to Staff
School District Digital Story
Internship Site Assets Video
Fall 2011 Assessment Day:
- Video reflection on school culture
- Triad role plays re: teacher interaction
- Action plan for teacher
Professional Growth Plan

Specialized Training

Site visits to A. B. Combs, KIPP GCP, Bertie Middle
Facilitative Leadership
Crucial Conversation
Teacher Evaluation Instrument
Same as above

Related Reading

3c. Acknowledges Failures; Celebrated Accomplishments and Rewards: The school executive acknowledges failures and celebrates accomplishments of the school in order to define the identity, culture and performance of the school.

3d. Efficacy and Empowerment: The school executive develops a sense of efficacy and empowerment among staff which influences the school's identity, culture, and performance.

School Culture Reflection Video: Fall Assessment Day 2011